This week, work continued on our large Papaya project in the Miracle Village Family Gardens. This large effort highlights both our Reforestation and our Edible Plant Nursery projects. Papaya plants (trees) are a valuable part of reforestation as they stabilize the soil from wind and rain erosion, and they add important biomass for enriching the soil as mulch and compost. Of course, they are good examples of our Edible Plant Nursery, too, because of their abundant, large fruits that can be enjoyed either fully ripened as a sweet, juicy, popular fruit or cooked like a vegetable when green and not yet mature. We will eventually plant 5,000 new papaya trees in this project, giving a huge boost to both locally available food and some basis for economic enterprise, as the families can sell any excess harvest in the local market. Here you see some of the ATC (Agricultural Training Center) students planting the new papayas in the ground they had prepared. Soon, the students will be proud to see the ”fruits of their labor” (and study) as the new plants begin to produce. They will see how their new skills are able to provide them “Food for Life” as they benefit from the opportunities you are providing for them. Thank you for blessing them with your continued support.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director